Biju Patnaik used to fund education cost of many poor students even without knowing them in person.
This was revealed by BJD MlA Debasis Nayak during a debate on Biju Patnaik in the Assemblyon Tuesday.
“When I was working as secretary to Bijubabu, he was giving scholarship to 600 students. There was no discrimination. Students from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states were also availing funds,” Nayak said.
Once Nayak asked late Patnaik whether he knew the students whom he was giving scholarships and he said “No”. He was, however, ensuring that the students got the money every month.
“Once I have been to the DRM in Visakhapatnam for a help. He asked me who I was. When I identified myself as the secretary to Biju Patnaik, the DRM who hailed from Uttar Pradesh came forward and solved my problem within minutes,” Nayak said, adding that he later knew this railways officer was a beneficiary of Patnaik’s scholarship.
Patnaik, he said, was also much importance to the treatment of poor and hapless people. He recalled that once security personnel did not allow an old woman to reach Patnaik.
“Bijubabu called me and said an old woman would come to meet him. I found the woman near the Forest Park. She was brought to Bijubabu, who called up the Shankar Netralaya in Chennai and ensured her eye treatment,” Nayak recalled.
He also told Nayak to pay the bill to the Shankar Netralaya. “When I approached the Netraylaya, they informed me that Bijubabu was their silent promoter who helped them set up the eye hospital,” Nayak said.
While Patnaik, then Chief Ministr, proposed a port at Paradip, the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted a detailed report and the Planning Commission’s approval.
“Bijubabu drew some lines on his hand and told Pandit Nehru that this is Daitari and this is highway and this is port. The work was done,” Nayak further recalled.